New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
I love a store-bought candle spell. My favorites come labeled with their purpose, "peace" and "love" and "health." Their marbled colors swirl together beautifully and small stones embedded in the wax drop free as the candle burns. I light them to release a soft energy ambience in my house. But when I'm casting a serious rite like the ones in Practical Magic for Beginners, I always use the candles I've prepared myself, made from plain colors and marked with the symbols for the planets and the elements. The tools I craft myself work best. Charms, amulets, and talismans are all made from physical objects and carry the power of the materials from which they are made. That power can be ...
When you imagine someone "fortunetelling," what images come to mind? For a lot of people, it's a crystal ball or a stack of tarot cards. There's absolutely nothing wrong with those methods when handled with care and thought, but as many witchy folk know, divination goes well beyond what so often gets portrayed by Hollywood. For those inclined towards folk magic, the tools of prognostication and metaphysical diagnosis are often both a bit strange and incredibly commonplace. That's because divination is so commonplace in North American folk magical practices, and therefore it makes use of commonplace objects. Diviners, however, often use those objects in uncanny and unusual ways, which ...
The element of air is all around us, but many people don't feel connected with it (as compared to the other elements). I believe this is because air is invisible, unlike earth, fire, and water. We simply can't see it most of the time. On top of that, many people only think about the physical and personal aspects of the element of air, such as the winds that blow and the breaths we take. There's a whole other world hidden in the air around us, which is known as the magical element of air. You could think of it as its own energetic realm, with spirits, energies, psychic messages, and connections to everything else in the world. It has the same corresponding traits as the physical and ...
In a world of ever-changing "normals," it can be difficult navigating through these times. However, there is a secret key to which we all have access and that does not cost a penny. What is this key? How can we rebalance, reconnect, and reset our life in a few easy steps? It is through our connection to the natural world. When my mind is full of dualistic thoughts, or racing around like a dog chasing its tail, this is what I do. I simply step outside and allow the wind to gently dance around me and play with my hair. Next, I relax and visualize that the wind is not only touching my skin, but it is also flowing through my mind, releasing unsettled thoughts. Next, I visualize that the wind ...
